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Call to preserve Himalayan eco-system

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: After reports that global warming, higher pollution levels and deforestation would lead to "death" of major Himalayan rivers, particularly the Ganga, and cause irreparable damage to the Himalayan eco-system, those closely associated with the region including mountaineers, glaciologists, climatologists and ecologists have urged the Union Government to take immediate measures for conservation of the fragile eco-system of the region.

Demanding immediate revival of the Planning Commission's Himalayan Region Task Force, the experts have asked the Union Government to undertake the conservation of the Himalayas as a Central project with active involvement of all the Himalayan States. Cooperation of the countries located astride the Himalayas and those sharing common borders should also be taken for evolving a joint strategy for management of the Himalayas, they opined.

Experts have also stressed the need for setting up a monitoring network along the Indian Himalayan Arc for collection of scientific data on climate change impacts, pollutant transport, cryosphere (the frozen water part of the Earth system), high altitude limnology, medical and physiological sciences, high altitude fauna and vegetation, and assessment of environmental impacts for improved territorial use by setting up pyramid laboratory observatories in the Himalayan glaciers.

The experts had gathered in the Capital last week on the invitation of Indian Mountaineering Foundation president Major (retd.) H.P.S. Ahluwalia to discuss the issue. They included former member of the Himalayan Region Task Force A. D. Moddie, Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University and noted glaciologist Prof. Syed Iqbal Hasnain, Meher Mehta of the Himalayan Club, Himalayan Environment Trust's Sushil Gupta, and Environment and Health Foundation (India)'s C P Muthanna.

Stating that the Ganga might become a seasonal river by the year 2025 and excessive flooding combined with rising sea levels would result in millions of refugees from low lying countries like Bangladesh, Major Ahluwalia said there was an urgent need to introduce anti-pollution measurers like use of alternative energies to wood, minimum use of non-biodegradable materials and limiting number of expeditions in sensitive areas.

Prof. Hasnain said immediate steps should to be taken for effecting reduction in green house gas emissions and aerosol emissions.

Other measures should include imposing an embargo on certain industries in the critical zone of the Himalayas.

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